Paranormal Romance

Title: Time UntamedAuthor: Lily MorganGenre: Paranormal RomanceAge: AdultIs This Part of a Series?: Yes (Book 2 of the Time Series)

*I received an e-Copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

Summary:
The second book in the Time Series follows Butch, a member of the TSCAA, and Savannah, a member of an ancient order of assassins. Although they are married, circumstances have lead to Butch believing Savannah (and their son) are dead and Savannah spending her life trying to keep her son’s existence a secret from Butch and her family. Now there is a plot against Jack Evans (the lead passenger staging the counter attack inside US Flight 93 on September 11, 2003) and their paths have crossed again. Will they be able to get past the lies and secrets of their past and save Jack Evans, their son, and history as we know it? Or will the mysterious Mr. X, the powerful man behind the plot, get his wish to unbalance the world and the powers of good and evil that fight for it?

Overall Impressions:
Much like the first book in the series, Time Untamed was an enjoyable read with a fun premise. I really enjoy the world that Ms. Morgan has created for the Time Series.

The Nitty Gritty:
I would like to start by saying that one of my issues with the first book (typos) was much less pronounced in this book. There were a few, but not enough to be distracting from the story. There was also an improvement in the amount of “over-sharing” that the characters did. So this book has some definite improvements over the first one (not that the first one was bad; I did give it three stars after all! It was enjoyable!). However, there were also a couple of things I didn’t like that were new to this book (most likely because of the needs of a new set of characters).

Most notable were the flashbacks. They provided some good information, but I sometimes had trouble transitioning with them. They also had a repetitive quality to them–there were several times where the reader got the same flashback from both Butch and Savannah’s point of view, with almost no new information provided. While there were certainly some well-written flashbacks that provided information I was glad to have as a reader (information that provided a greater emotional connection to the character(s), character development, and/or plot advancement), the majority of them were superfluous to at least some degree.

Another issue I had was connecting to Butch. There was a certain amount of residual connection from the first book, however, I found him to be a bit off-putting, especially with his insistence to refer to the women around him as “hellcats”. Once or twice would have been telling about both Butch and the women, but using that descriptor just about every time that he mentioned these women made him seem more chauvinistic than anything. I got that he did actually admire them, but the fact that he had to label them anything other than valuable members of his team made me feel as if he didn’t expect women to be valuable in his world.

Once Butch and Savannah’s son came into play, however, my connection with all of the characters snapped into place. Not only could I relate to the parenting side of Butch and Savannah, but their son also opened up the soft, gooey center at the heart of them, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. Once that happened, I very much liked both characters, the journey they were on, and the relationship between them.

Perhaps one of the best parts of this book, though, was the foreshadowing of the larger picture: more is revealed about Mr. X, and there are several other characters which Ms. Morgan hinted at being more important than they first appeared. More importantly, these revelations came in a surprising manner at a point in the book when I was not expecting them. It was very well done and has me excited to see how it unfolds.

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars (1 Rating)Amazon Rating: 5 Stars (2 Ratings)
My Rating: 4 Stars
Once again, I found myself not quite sure where to rate this book. It was not as skillfully and seamlessly written as I would like for a four or five star rating, generally, but it was also more than just a book that I “liked”. When it came down to it, I decided that the improvements from the first book to the second, as well as the skillfully enticing foreshadowing that helped close out the book, rated the bump up to a four star. However, I would have to say that a third book in this series would most likely require a continued improvement in writing technique–namely restraint–in order to “maintain” a four star rating. (I like the books a lot, world, character, and plot-wise, but my four star ratings are “reserved” for books that I like -and- have good writing. For me, improved writing qualifies as good writing. Continually improving writing is some of the best writing there is, really.)

*I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Summary:
Skyla is a highly-trained member of a secret government agency involved in time travel missions meant to keep the world from falling out of balance and into World War III. Her carefully ordered life falls into chaos, however, when she meets a mysterious man while on a mission. Her body reacts as if she knows the man, but she has no memory of him. To make matters more confusing, he “pushes” her back to her time–without the use of the time machine! When he later shows up inside the secret, highly-guarded government facility, what she knows of her life begins to fall into question. Why is this man interested in her? Who is he? More importantly, who is she?

Overall Impressions:
I found myself enjoying this book, although it was sometimes difficult to know why (due to a few elements of the book that I found distracting). The premise is great, the characters are fun, and when it comes right down to it, I kept going back to read more.

The Nitty Gritty:
As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, there were some (for me) distracting elements to this book. First and foremost was Ms. Morgan’s tendency to over describe thoughts and emotions. Don’t get me wrong, I do want to know what characters are thinking and feeling, but I don’t necessarily want to be told all of it. Tell me some, when it makes sense to. Show me some–maybe even a lot. And occasionally leave a little bit of mystery there too, to help build tension and make the surprises bigger. This was especially noticeable in the first half or so of the book, when the action was a bit slower and there was more time to share character thoughts. I would like to point out to positive things here: first, this “over” description came in handy in describing the landscape of the book–the scenery and furnishings and costuming, so to speak. Secondly, this desire to let us know so much about Ms. Morgan’s thoughts led her to switching point of view characters to those most able to share the appropriate information. It was never constrained by the fact that the character wasn’t the main character. That is a technique that I, personally, enjoy. The story should always be told by the person best suited to tell it, even if that changes from one chapter to the next.

Secondly, there were a several times that the wrong word was used in a story simply (I believe) because of a typo that resulted in a correctly spelled word (which therefore was not caught by spell check) or by a switch in approach mid-sentence (resulting in words like he and his being switched around). In a related issue, there were some word choices that I just plain felt did not fit. Some of the time there were too many words, slowing down the scene at an inappropriate time. Several times there were words that were technically right but didn’t seem to fit with the voice of the character, resulting in a jarring sensation that pushed me out of the story somewhat. And a couple of times there were words that gave details I did not feel were truly necessary–like mentioning that Skyla pulled out her Glock. There was a sentence early on mentioning how weapons needed to be time-appropriate and, in fact, another one later where there was a discussion on how they would not even work if the material components and technology to make them did not exist in the time period being traveled to. These two details combined to make me stop every time technology was mentioned and think about what time period they were in, whether or not the weaponry was appropriate for that time, etc. I don’t want to stop and think–essentially doubting the author–when I am reading. I want the world to be obviously cohesive and consistent, my author to know what he or she is talking about, and the characters to know that they can do X but not Y. I am not saying that anything that Ms. Morgan wrote was wrong–but, I was wondering about it, rather than just sinking into the book and flipping pages as furiously as I could. And all of that thinking could have been stopped by the omission of certain details. Omission can be as important as inclusion, sometimes.

As for the good…it was easy to get on board with Skyla, Rei, Knox, and the others. The antagonists were creepy, slimy, and powerful–and at least one of them was well-hidden for a good portion of the book. The idea of the TSCAA (the time-traveling government agency Skyla works for) is intriguing and fun, and I really like the premise that the time machine was invented during the 1500s, but due to a mishap was lost until present day. I also like the ideas Ms. Morgan plays with when discussing which events the TSCAA and Mr. X have been “fighting” over–some are big moments in history that are easy to imagine as history-altering. Some are smaller. Growing up on shows like Sliders, this is a concept that appeals to me. As a romance, there are sex scenes involved–both on and off screen–and I believe these were well done, with probably some of the best writing (for my tastes) in the whole book, with just the right amount of information, consistent and appropriate pacing, and a balance of sparks and character (and plot) development.

Goodreads Rating: 3.8 (5 Ratings)Amazon Rating: 5.0 Stars (6 Reviews)My Rating: 3 Stars
This was a tough one for me to rate. There was such a pull between things I liked and things that distracted me. What it finally boiled down to, though, was the idea that I did keep going back to the book. The premise and characters are a 4 or 5 star crew. I finished it. I would like to read at least one more book to see where the series and Ms. Morgan’s balance-in-writing go from here. But the distractions, well, distracted me. A lot. It kept me at the surface of the book rather than allowing me to really sink into it. Still while the typo/editing type errors are not a personal opinion type of issue, most of the other negatives are more of a personal pet peeve and, I believe, difference in stylistic approach than a strictly good or bad approach to the writing craft. So. I liked it a fair amount, but it felt rough around the edges.

Title: StyxxAuthor: Sherrilyn KenyonGenre: Paranormal RomanceAge: AdultPart of a Series?: Yes (this is part of the Dark Hunter series, which has several other closely connected series to go with it)

*I originally read this book using one of my library’s copies and have since purchased my own copy

Summary:
This is the story of Styxx, twin brother of Acheron–one of the most prominent, mysterious, and vital characters appearing in the Dark Hunter universe. In prior appearances, Styxx has always been in opposition with Acheron, and readers of the previous books have, most likely, come to view Styxx as (at best) a thorn in Acheron’s side. Now, however, the safety of the world depends on the cooperation of these two brothers and readers, finally, get a chance to see Styxx from his own point of view. Who will Styxx really turn out to be? Will he and Acheron be able to put aside their differences long enough to do what is needed to save the world?

Overall Impression:
I am a big fan of all of the books from this universe: Dark Hunter, Dream Hunter, Were Hunter, and (especially) The Chronicles of Nick. I was expecting to enjoy this book when I picked it up, but I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to like Styxx, since he has pretty much always been a “bad” guy in his previous appearances (not to be confused with the “bad guy”, aka the antagonist or villain of a story). Ms. Kenyon, however, managed it wonderfully. I fell in love with Styxx, with Bethany (the love interest of Styxx), and the book. This is, currently, my favorite book of the series and (I believe) a must-read of anyone who enjoys this series. Even if you haven’t read the series, it is a book worth considering.

The Nitty Gritty:
Ms. Kenyon is a skilled writer. She can achieve a great deal of characterization with very little effort. On pages 7 and 8, for example, she gives us an inside look at Styxx and Acheron’s father: “He tightened his grip, which caused the baby to wake and cry out. A part of him wanted to slam the child into the ground and watch it die. To stomp it into oblivion.” With just a few dozen words, the reader knows how awful King Xerxes is and instantly wants to protect Acheron…AND Styxx (despite “knowing” how he is going to turn out). Ms. Kenyon’s skilled use of word choice to build characterization continues throughout the remainder of this lengthy book. By the time we reach the conclusion, we have a thorough insight of many, many characters. And all of them are distinct, memorable, and deep.

Word choice, the rise and fall of conflict, and emotional connections between characters all work together to draw the reader in. The pace is varied, but steady, and makes this a difficult book to set aside (no matter how loud the screeches between fighting siblings gets). For those readers who have read previous books and avoided this one, for fear that Styxx will be unlikeable…have no fear! Ms. Kenyon does an excellent job of letting us see the true heart of Styxx–without throwing Acheron’s character or behavior into question.

As for the romance side of things…Bethany and Styxx coming together make these two characters sing. The life that seems to jump off the page in their scenes together is palpable. However, there are some hiccups and twists and turns that occur over the course of their lifetime that keep the romantic storyline from becoming boring or mundane. Over all, this is a romance you can fantasize over, and a set of characters that you feel you know–and wish you could protect.

Special Parenting Concerns:
First and foremost, this is a romance. There are scenes of intimacy and lovemaking. Beyond that, however, this is a book that begins 9,000 years ago in a much more violent (think Spartan) society. There are many scenes of violence, torture, rape (including gang rape), and sex slaves. This is not an easy book to read, and is not for the immature. Even those who are mature, but perhaps young, may not be the right reader for this book. That said, it is worth the read. Glimpses of humanity, love, honor, and bravery are also found throughout this book. It can inspire the reader to greater heights in their own life and greater faith in humanity. For parents considering whether or not to allow their mature teenager to read this, I say only that I would recommend you read it first, take your child’s personality into consideration, and then be ready to talk things through.

Book Club Chatter:
This book is long and covers a large variety of discussion-worthy topics. Rather than list questions for all topics, I am going to simply suggest topics worth exploring (and suggest that you provide plenty of reading and discussion time for this book; one month may not be enough!):

How fear can impact our lives, personalities, and culture

How courage can be large or small; this is a very good topic to use to connect the book and characters to personal lives (by looking at acts of courage we have done, acts of courage we have witnessed, or acts of courage that have impacted or become a part of our culture)

How assumptions about people, and belief of gossip, can mold our view of a person–and even mold that person’s view of themselves (and their personality)

How emotions in general can impact our life and world: they can distort memories, distort our view of other people and their actions, etc

One week ago, Danielle Rose released her debut novel, Blood Rose. My review of it was the first review I posted as the Busy Busy Bookwyrm (and you can read it here). In honor of a week of availability (both for her book and my review blog!), I asked her a few pressing, life-and-death (or maybe just interesting) questions. Here are her answers:

1) Where did the inspiration for Avah come from? Jasik?

It’s hard for me to answer this because I can’t pinpoint one place that was the root of my inspiration. I like to write novels with a strong female lead, but I also like there to be weakness and opportunities for growth. I also like to write relatable characters, and I needed Avah to stay strong, yet still fall apart when she lost herself after her transition. (Something I think anyone in her situation would have done.)

Jasik was the easiest character to write—though his tone was the hardest. It was easy for me to envision him, because he’s everything I’d want in a book boyfriend. He’s gorgeous and strong. He’s selfless and kind. He’s caring and devoted.

2) What was the hardest scene to write in Blood Rose? How did you finally push through it?

There were a few scenes that were difficult to write. It was hard for me to write the scenes in which Avah’s witch coven turns their back on her because of what she’s become. There are elements at play there that will soon come to light, and even though I knew this, it was still difficult for me. I’ve always had a very close relationship with my mom, and I’ve never been in a situation where I couldn’t run home. But that’s where Avah is in book one. She’s lost a huge part of herself, and she feels as though she has nowhere to turn. The one place she wants to go, she can’t, and the one place welcoming her, she doesn’t want to go.

It was also difficult to write the sex scenes. The sensual scenes were easy for me to write, but when it came time to write the sex scene, I had trouble. I constantly questioned myself: is this enough? Am I going too far? Should I add more detail? My series, Blood Books, does not consist of erotic novels, but they are new adult paranormal romance. There is a fine line between the two, and I needed to make sure I didn’t cross it.

In all honesty, I think pushing through was just trial and error. I worked through the issues with my editor, tossing what didn’t work and fleshing out what did. But that’s how writing goes in general, I suppose.

3) Your debut novel, Blood Rose, released on August 13th, 2015. What has been the most surprising thing that has happened since then?

In all honesty, the most surprising thing thus far has been the overwhelmingly positive feedback I’ve gotten. Everyone has loved it. Releasing a novel is terrifying, but I’ve had so much support, and I’ve gotten the most amazing comments from readers who can’t wait for the second book. I’ve received comments like “My monthly book allowance only allows for one book a month, and I’m using it to buy yours!” and “I bought the ebook, but I must have the paperback on my shelf, so I bought your book twice!” and “Please, please never end this series!” It’s been so amazing, and I’m incredibly grateful and humbled by everything that’s happened so far.

4) You have a very busy release schedule set for the next year or so. How are you planning on keeping yourself refreshed and energized? What do you do to keep your creative batteries charged?

I’m fairly prolific, so I try to keep myself on track with a big load. I am a full-time writer, so it’s easy for me to stay on track. I tend to write one book every two months. I could write more, but I also stay very active on my social media accounts because I love interacting with other writers and readers. Because of this, I limit how much I write every day. (That’s so I don’t get burnt out!)

To stay fresh and remain on track, I do several things:

I stick to a realistic (and small) word count. I aim for only 1,000 words a day. It takes me less than one hour to write that many words.

I try to work in my office, which is filled with lots of motivational items like my books, quotes on post-its, books on writing, and more!

I stay in contact with a few writer friends, and we keep each other on task.

I use to-do lists like they’re going out of style. I usually write one every day. I’m a HUGE fan of planning!

I try to outline all of my books. That way, I know exactly what I’m working on when I hit the chair. When I have an outline, I can write my 1,000 words in less than 30 minutes. Because of this, I usually end up writing more than 1,000 words every day, too!

5) Finally, if you could be anything, what type and/or color of dragon would you be and why? More importantly, what would be the first book you placed in your literary horde?

I took a BuzzFeed quiz that says I’m a Hydrohius dragon, which according to this quiz, is a water dragon. This type of dragon has the ability to morph and change shapes. It says that people who are this type of dragon are a “gentle, but powerful, go-with-the-flow kind of person.” We “watch from a distance and spend much time” in our own thoughts. I couldn’t agree more! Water is my element based on astrology, too. I love the rain and the ocean. I’m at my most comfortable when around water. And my favorite color is teal! So I’d be a blue water dragon for sure!

Author Bio:Danielle Rose is writer of fiction and travel, as well as the owner of Narrative Ink Editing LLC. Danielle currently resides in the Midwest, where she spends her days at a local coffee shop planning her next vacation or plotting her next novel.

Danielle holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast program. In addition to her Master of Fine Arts, she also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and certification in professional writing from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

When not writing, traveling, or writing about traveling, Danielle enjoys being outdoors, cheering for her favorite football team (Go Packers!), and spending time with her husband and their furbabies: two dogs and a cat.

*I was provided an advanced reading copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:Avah Taylor is a young witch, born with the power of Spirit, trained as a warrior, and chosen as the one witch in her generation to be gifted with The Power, which prophecy says will be the key to ending the fighting between witches and vampires. Although most witches to receive The Power die young, Avah has vowed to end the centuries old war.

Destiny, however, has other plans.

On the night Avah is to receive The Power, her coven is attacked by vampires. Injured in the fighting and left for dead, Avah finds herself rescued—and turned—by a vampire unlike any she has seen before. Disowned by her coven and her family for being a vampire, Avah is forced to join her maker and the group of vampires he is a part of.

The majority of the book is spent with the reader watching as Avah is torn between the “facts” she was raised to believe in and the realities that are unfolding in front of her. As she struggles between the old life and the new, Avah must decide who she is, what defines a family, and where her loyalties lie.

Overall Impressions:This book certainly had both strengths and weaknesses, but when it comes right down to it, I gave it it’s rating based on the following things:

Once I began reading it, I didn’t want to stop until I had reached the end.

My breathing, my heart rate, and—most importantly—my emotions were all impacted by the story of Avah, Jasik, and the vampires under Jasik’s protection.

The book was always moving forward, even when there were down beats.

When I finished the book, I was already counting the days until December when the next book in the series will come out.

The Nitty Gritty:Although this is Ms. Rose’s Debut novel, there is no doubt that she knows her craft. She writes with a fast-paced intensity that is liberally sprinkled with beautiful poetry and sharp commentary on life and the human condition.

The world she writes in is both fantastically foreign and comfortingly normal, and obviously thoroughly thought through. While the majority of the world the reader sees is full of magic and war and life-or-death choices, not to mention witches and vampires, there are fabulous intrusions of our every day world. Descriptions are detailed and precise, but never weigh down the foreword momentum of the story. Yes, this is happening in a world that we will never know, but that world just happens to be just out of reach of our own, hiding in the shadows and forest clearings and middle-of-nowhere, fringe communities. If we could only look in just the right spot, at just the right moment, we would see that it is real, has always been real, and was merely waiting for us to pay attention. Thankfully, Ms. Rose is here to lend us her vision.

Although there are ten (by my count) characters important for the reader to recognize, they are all distinct from one another, with looks, attitudes, and ways of speaking that are unique to each character. I never had a problem following who was speaking or why they were acting the way they did.

That being said, character RELATIONSHIPS are one of the areas that fell short for me. Any relationships that Avah had with another vampire–Jasik, Amicia, for example, or even the vampire community as a whole–felt rushed. There seemed to be distinct phases, such as enemy/distrust and neutral, but no gradual shifting or active working on improving the relationship. Avah went from hating vampires, to hoping they wouldn’t hate her, to everybody liking everybody (more or less). This detracted some from the believability of the relationships. My experience is that, aside from very young kids, friendships and trust take a very, very long time to develop.

There is a caveat to this complaint, however! While re-examining the book, I realized that there were some moments that had initially felt like inconsistencies in the time line, but which were actually, I think, jumps in the timeline. If this is indeed the case, the confusion in how quickly things happen and the dissatisfaction in how fast relationships develop, could be fixed with a simple transition paragraph every time a jump occurs, or even a simple “time stamp” at the start of each chapter or scene.

Special Parenting Concerns:
Sex Scenes: This book is classified as a romance; there is a love interest for twenty-four-year-old Avah and there are several scenes of various levels of intimacy. They are all tasteful and most of them feature no more than intense kissing or strong feelings of attraction. There is one scene where they are in bed together, feeding off of each other, which is very sexual but includes no genital penetration, and one scene with actual penetration (and no “fade to black”). Keep this in mind if you don’t want your teenager to be reading such things or, keep it in mind as an area to discuss as a possible teachable moment if you are comfortable enough to have such discussions with your young adult or new adult children.

Violence: This book’s plot centers around a way between witches and vampires. There are vampires of varying degrees of violence. Fighting, blood, and death occur more than once in this book. However, there is never violence just for violence’s sake, nor is there a great deal of detail put into the gore. Keep in mind that Avah, the main character, is turned into a vampire very early on and blood becomes her source of food. There are some great, detailed descriptions of what she goes through in facing the thought of drinking blood, as well as her first and subsequent encounters drinking blood. The coven she belongs to does not hunt for their blood, though. Instead, they get their blood from willing donors via blood bag.

Language: No (or very, very little) swearing.

Book Club Chatter:This book can open the door for a variety of discussions between parents and their high school and older children (or your book club!):

A discussion of where identity comes from—the genes you are born with, the family you are raised by, or the choices you make?

How do things we “know” to be true impact our choices and relationships? How could we—and should we—look for ways to challenge these “facts”?

What makes a family?

What makes a person, organization, or idea worth our loyalty?

You Will Like This If…:

You like Twilight, Chosen, or Blue Bloods

Authors such as Marjorie Liu and Sherrilyn Kenyon

Books that blend more than one genre: this is a paranormal action romance, blending vampires AND witches, action AND romance.

As a New Adult novel, this book could appeal to those who love Young Adult, New Adult, and traditional Paranormal Romances

You may be wondering why I would give this book five stars when I had several things that I did not like or wished were done differently. And I will admit, I was torn between a four and five star rating. However, what a five star rating boils down to for me is not a “perfectly written” book, but a book that provides me the perfect reading experience. If I select a book and it is well-written, fun, and I don’t want to put it down; if it is a book that I can sink into and forget the real world is around me rather than between the pages I hold in my hands…well, -that- is a five star experience to me, and -that- is most definitely what I received with this book.

*this book review is also posted on Goodreads and here on Modern Momology